Two-year-old filly pacers Spreester (by American Ideal) and Barefoot Beauty (by Art Major) each delivered career-best 1:54.3 clockings in Friday night’s $76,100 New York State Fair competition at Vernon Downs, while in a non-Excelsior series event, two-year-old colt pacer Jet Airway (by Jeremes Jet) became the fastest freshman performer of the 53-program meeting with a 1:53.1 performance.
The victories by Spreester and Barefoot Beauty came in divisions of Friday’s $37,900 Excelsior Series for New York-breds, and tied another frosh filly high-stepper, Misty Major, for fastest mile honors by a representative of their age, sex and gait through Aug. 23.
Spreester’s score, her fifth in seven career outings, came in Friday’s fourth event with Frank Coppola Jr. doing the driving for trainer Paul Zabielski and owner Kimberley Zabielski, while Barefoot Beauty’s second season’s triumph came two races later, with Ron Waples doing the steering for trainer Gregg McNair and owner James Avritt Sr.
Friday’s other two-year-old filly pacing winner was Sweet Brown (Bettors Delight), who earned a 1:55.1 maiden victory with Jim Morrill Jr. doing the teaming for trainer Amber Buter and owner Tyler L. Buter in race five.
Jet Air Way produced his second win in five starts with Charlie Norris at the controls for trainer Erv Miller, the Ervin Miller Stable, Tangle Massey, Paul Sunderhaus and Larry Agle.
The swiftest first-place finisher in Friday’s $38,200 Excelsior Series action for two-year-old trotting fillies was Thoughtfilly (by Conway Hall), with Morrill Jr. driving in the first race. It was the second score in five starts for quick-stepping bay, who is trained by Brandon Simpson and owned by the Mystical Marker Farms, Peggy Hood, Dirk Simpson Stable and the Simpson Racing Stable.
Friday’s other trotting division winners were Absinthe (by Crazed) in 1:59.4 in race nine, and Lindys Crazy Dolly (by Crazed) in 2:00 in event 10, each a first-time starter trained by Frank Antonacci for the Lindy Farms of CT and the Lindy Racing Stable, respectively.
Chris Lems, who teamed both Absinthe and Lindys Crazy Dolly, earned his 15th driving double of the Vernon campaign.
(Vernon Downs)